Published: Wednesday, November 14, 2012 at 9:55 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, November 14, 2012 at 9:55 p.m.

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Henry was sworn in as the city's next mayor Wednesday night along with four city commissioners also beginning new terms.

"For me, it's been quite a journey," Henry said as he settled into the mayor's chair in City Commission chambers for the first time, looking out at a sea of flashing cameras and an over-capacity crowd packed into the small room.

The journey Henry referred to included his grandfather dying decades ago for the right to vote, and it referred to his own battle against two rounds of now-dismissed allegations that he violated elections laws.

"When I decided to run for mayor a lot of people told me you're crazy," Henry said to the crowd that included former Mayor Bud Asher and a host of other local leaders. "They said you can never make that kind of comeback."

But Henry silenced the critics and won the race last week by capturing 55.5 percent of votes, getting the support of 2,725 more people than challenger Edith Shelley.

The other winners sworn in by Circuit Judge Hubert L. Grimes included new Zone 1 City Commissioner Carl Lentz IV, incumbent Zone 4 City Commissioner Rob Gilliland and new Zone 6 City Commissioner Paula Reed. Incumbent Zone 2 City Commissioner Pam Woods was re-elected without opposition, and was also sworn in for another four years.

"The citizens have put their trust in each of you," Grimes told them.

During the meeting Henry gave Shelley a plaque for her service the past two years as the Zone 1 city commissioner, a position she resigned with two years left on her term to run for mayor.

Henry also gave former Mayor Glenn Ritchey a plaque for his service, saying the avalanche of compliments Ritchey received in his final days in office "were really not lofty enough to express the job you did."

Henry asked Ritchey to loan him his guidance, and Ritchey responded by saying, "I'll be your friend."

"You've done an amazing job over the last six years," Henry told Ritchey before the outgoing mayor handed over the gavel and walked out of City Hall.

Now Henry is the city's 21st mayor since 1926, when the towns of Daytona, Daytona Beach and Seabreeze merged to form the unified town of Daytona Beach. And he is the city's second African-American mayor, with Yvonne Scarlett-Golden, who served from 2003 through the end of 2006, being the first.

Henry was looking forward Wednesday night, already talking about forming a group he's calling The Friends of Derrick Henry, people he plans to work with to attack problems such as code enforcement violations.

"I see the big picture and what we can become," said the 43-year-old mayor, who will be the city's top elected official until the end of 2016.

There were sprinkles of humor in the event. After Henry handed Ritchey the glass commemorative plaque for his time as mayor, Ritchey jokingly asked if that was all he was getting after six years. And Reed quipped that running her campaign since January was like giving birth, and she said "I just wanted that thing out of me."

But most of the conversation was about the potential for Daytona Beach, and the city's future.

"We need to be prepared for an economic explosion in this community," said Zone 5 City Commissioner Patrick Henry, Mayor Henry's older brother.

"We've got positive momentum in the community," Gilliland said. "It's been a while since we could say that."

<p>DAYTONA BEACH &mdash; The Derrick Henry era has dawned in Daytona Beach. </p><p>Henry was sworn in as the city's next mayor Wednesday night along with four city commissioners also beginning new terms. </p><p>"For me, it's been quite a journey," Henry said as he settled into the mayor's chair in City Commission chambers for the first time, looking out at a sea of flashing cameras and an over-capacity crowd packed into the small room. </p><p>The journey Henry referred to included his grandfather dying decades ago for the right to vote, and it referred to his own battle against two rounds of now-dismissed allegations that he violated elections laws. </p><p>"When I decided to run for mayor a lot of people told me you're crazy," Henry said to the crowd that included former Mayor Bud Asher and a host of other local leaders. "They said you can never make that kind of comeback." </p><p>But Henry silenced the critics and won the race last week by capturing 55.5 percent of votes, getting the support of 2,725 more people than challenger Edith Shelley. </p><p>The other winners sworn in by Circuit Judge Hubert L. Grimes included new Zone 1 City Commissioner Carl Lentz IV, incumbent Zone 4 City Commissioner Rob Gilliland and new Zone 6 City Commissioner Paula Reed. Incumbent Zone 2 City Commissioner Pam Woods was re-elected without opposition, and was also sworn in for another four years. </p><p>"The citizens have put their trust in each of you," Grimes told them. </p><p>During the meeting Henry gave Shelley a plaque for her service the past two years as the Zone 1 city commissioner, a position she resigned with two years left on her term to run for mayor. </p><p>Henry also gave former Mayor Glenn Ritchey a plaque for his service, saying the avalanche of compliments Ritchey received in his final days in office "were really not lofty enough to express the job you did." </p><p>Henry asked Ritchey to loan him his guidance, and Ritchey responded by saying, "I'll be your friend." </p><p>"You've done an amazing job over the last six years," Henry told Ritchey before the outgoing mayor handed over the gavel and walked out of City Hall. </p><p>Now Henry is the city's 21st mayor since 1926, when the towns of Daytona, Daytona Beach and Seabreeze merged to form the unified town of Daytona Beach. And he is the city's second African-American mayor, with Yvonne Scarlett-Golden, who served from 2003 through the end of 2006, being the first. </p><p>Henry was looking forward Wednesday night, already talking about forming a group he's calling The Friends of Derrick Henry, people he plans to work with to attack problems such as code enforcement violations. </p><p>"I see the big picture and what we can become," said the 43-year-old mayor, who will be the city's top elected official until the end of 2016. </p><p>There were sprinkles of humor in the event. After Henry handed Ritchey the glass commemorative plaque for his time as mayor, Ritchey jokingly asked if that was all he was getting after six years. And Reed quipped that running her campaign since January was like giving birth, and she said "I just wanted that thing out of me." </p><p>But most of the conversation was about the potential for Daytona Beach, and the city's future. </p><p>"We need to be prepared for an economic explosion in this community," said Zone 5 City Commissioner Patrick Henry, Mayor Henry's older brother. </p><p>"We've got positive momentum in the community," Gilliland said. "It's been a while since we could say that."</p>